Introduction to Filmmaking at the Castle (18+)

Students will be put into small production units and assigned to a specific scene from the Acting: Shakespeare’s work. They will discuss and devise how to shoot the scene, the technical aspects and stylistic choices they would like to employ on the scene.

Film crews will be made up from the entire cohort, and all students will work on each scene. Students will be shadowing Lecturer and Director Alasdair Hunter, who can offer them guidance on working with actors, how to give feedback and notes to help develop performance and will be able to see how a director works with such iconic and complex pieces of text.

The editing portion will run for three days, in the morning students will be guided through specific editing techniques and processes. These will look at how to practically edit the footage, but also explore the creative choices filmmakers make, supported by editing theory. In the afternoon students will have self study time to work on their scenes at their own time and pace. Students can use as much of the three days as they need – and are able to work on multiple scenes, should they want.Please note, there is an additional fee (£150) to attend the editing portion of the course. Any students interested should contact summerschools@rcs.ac.uk to receive a booking link.

Editing Schedule

Monday 19^th August

• 10am – 1pm – Taught editing session
• 1pm – 5pm – Self study

Tuesday 20^th August

• 10am – 10.30am – Self study
• 10.30am – 1pm – Taught editing session
• 1pm – 5pm – Self Study

Wednesday 21^st August

• 10am – 10.30am – Self Study
• 30am – 1pm – Taught editing session
• 1pm – 3pm – Self Study
• 4pm – 5pm – How to export your finished film

The schedule is subject to potential changes. Students will be informed of any changes that may occur where possible.

In addition to the residential week, participants can opt to take part in an additional editing course over 3-days, 19 – 21 August. This course is only available to those who have completed Introduction to Filmmaking at the Castle.

Participants will be given access to the Royal Conservatoire’s editing suite to edit their footage with a combination of taught lessons from our expert lecturers, and self-study. Participants will explore how to create an editing project and the theory behind when to make certain editing decisions.

During this time students will be guided through specific editing techniques and processes. This will look at how to practically edit the footage, but also explore the creative choices filmmakers make, supported by editing theory. In the afternoon students will have self study time to work on their scenes at their own time and pace. Students can use as much of the three days as they need – and are able to work on multiple scenes, should they want.

Please note there is an additional fee of £150 to take part in the 3-days editing. Accommodation for these additional days is not included and is the participant’s responsibility to arrange during this time.

Please contact us for more information and to sign up: summerschools@rcs.ac.uk

Additional Editing Days Details

Dates: 19 – 21 August 2024
Time: 10am – 5pm
Venue: RCS, Renfrew Street Campus
Fee: £150

Booking is by application only. Please complete this additional booking form that needs to be completed upon submission of your application.

Please be advised, if we have any queries about your application, we may request a zoom meeting.

Students should come to the course expecting to work hard, be challenged and enjoy contributing to the creative process.

Duncan Sanders graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) with First Class Honours in Digital Film and Television. During his time at the Conservatoire he was lucky enough to meet and work with artists as diverse as Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park, Ghandi) James McAvoy (X-Men Days of Future Past, Atonement) and Seamus McGarvey (Avengers Assemble, Godzilla)

Since graduation, Duncan has worked as a workshop facilitator and film maker, collaborating with companies such as the Lyceum Theatre, Fresh Creations, Short Courses and the Junior Conservatoire of Film, where he has been a Filmmaking tutor and lecturer for the better part of ten years. Duncan also lecturers on both the Acting and Musical Theatre degree programmes at the RCS.

Since 2016 Duncan has held the post of Short Courses Coordinator, where he has been responsible for devising and delivering courses covering the practical, technical and theory side of film making. Duncan has also written several credit modules as part of Short Courses and the Junior Conservatoire film offering.

In 2021 Duncan attained a Masters in Education from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The Dean Castle sits within the stunning 200 acre grounds of Dean Castle Country Park. The recently renovated 14^th century castle is situated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. The castle was the home of the Boyd family for over 400 years. It was inherited by the 8^th Lord Howard de Walden in 1899 who restored the buildings which had lain in ruins since a fire in 1735. The Keep, dating to around 1350, houses outstanding displays that tell the story of the Boyd family and medieval life. From the exquisite craftsmanship and rarity of the musical instrument collection to the Viking sword that fires the imagination, the Dean Castle and the collections represent over 1000 years of the history of Ayrshire, its people and the story of Scotland.

Dean Castle is situated within Dean Castle Country Park which is home to wildlife, ponds, and forest walks. The park also has a residential accommodation block, public café, and Rural Life centre.

If you’re a fan of the hit show Outlander, Dean Castle was used as Beaufort Castle in Series 2.

Your course fee includes the following:

• Accommodation
• Food (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
• Evening Activities

This Summer School will be taking place in Dean Castle Country Park. There is a residential accommodation block on site, and all students taking part in the Summer School will be required to stay on location. Dean Castle Country Park is around 40 minutes from Glasgow City Centre. There are limited options in the immediate vicinity, so we recommend bringing everything you need to site.

The accommodation at Dean Castle Country Park consists of dorms for four students, with two bunk beds in each. There is also a shower and toilet block at either end of the corridor, and a door in the corridor separating the male and female identifying dorms and showers.

We are committed to our Safe Space policy and will be inclusive in our accommodation assignments. We ask that all students read through the Safe Space policy and email summerschools@rcs.ac.uk if you have any concerns.

Within Dean Castle Country Park, you will find the residential accommodation block attached to a public café. Then a short walk through the grounds, you’ll find the castle, woodlands, forest walks and Rural Life centre. The public will have access to the castle from 11am to 4pm, and you’ll be working in rooms within and around the castle, and rehearsal spaces on the grounds.

All meals will be served within the residential space by caterers. As part of the additional booking form you can detail any dietary requirements.

As part of the Summer School, there will be some planned activities both on and off site. These could include bowling, movie night, ceilidh, outdoor activities.

We recommend students bring:

• warm and comfortable clothing
• waterproof shoes or boots
• some clothes they don’t mind getting dirty/wet
• waterproof jackets (for the Scottish summers)
• warm layers, as you’ll be working in and around a drafty, old castle.

A full list of what to bring will be sent out with your welcome pack.